Gardner Leads Marquette Past DePaul 66-56
Davante Gardner scored a career-high 28 points while starting for the first time in nearly two years, leading Marquette to a 66-56 victory over DePaul on Saturday.

The Marquette University men’s basketball team (15-11, 7-6 BIG EAST) hits the road for BIG EAST Conference action this weekend when the squad visits rival DePaul (10-17, 2-12 BIG EAST) at 1 p.m. CT. CBS Sports Network will feature the national television broadcast, with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Alaa Abdelnaby (analyst) calling the action from Allstate Arena. The outing will be featured during CBS Sports’ Super Social Saturday initiative (#CBSSuperSocial). Notable alumni from competing schools will take over @HOOPSonCBS to answer fan questions and live tweet analysis during the games. Participating alumni Marquette alum Steve Novak (#AskNovak). Following Saturday’s action, MU will return to the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. to host Georgetown on FOX Sports 1.

Plenty Of History In Marquette-DePaul Series

Marquette’s all-time series with DePaul dates back to the 1917-18 campaign (second year of MU’s varsity competition) and includes 113 previous meetings.

The Golden Eagles own a 69-44 advantage in the series, most recently defeating DePaul 66-56 on Jan. 4, 2014 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Senior forward Davante Gardner netted a career-high 28 points in the first meeting the lead the squad and classmate Jamil Wilson chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds.

In program history, Marquette has faced only Wisconsin (120) and Notre Dame (118) on more occasions. For the first time since MU joined the BIG EAST Conference in 2005-06, the league’s schedule features a home-and-home format with each of the programs.

Depth Of BIG EAST Difficult To Match

With the postseason rapidly approaching, the BIG EAST is well positioned to place multiple teams in the final bracket. Consider these facts, through games of Feb. 19.

- The BIG EAST has seven teams in the top-60 of the latest KenPom Rankings, second only to the ACC and Big 12 (more total members), and more than the Big Ten, SEC and all other leagues. - Seven league schools have a strength of schedule in the top-40 according to KenPom, more than any other league, and six are ranked in the top 75 of the RPI. - KenPom ranks the BIG EAST as the third-toughest conference in the country and RPIRatings.com lists the league fourth, thanks in part to the narrow differential (second-smallest among all leagues) between its top and bottom programs.

Marquette’s Roster Features All-League Candidates

With the regular season entering its final weeks, it’s time for the league’s coaching staffs to start perusing its member rosters for all-league candidates. Marquette seniors Davante Gardner and Jamil Wilson, along with junior Todd Mayo, should have their respective names included in the conversation.

Wilson was tabbed honorable mention all-league in the preseason poll and is ranked among the league leaders in scoring (19th, 12.2 ppg.) and rebounding (14th, 5.5 rpg.). He has pickup up his production on the boards in league games, where he ranks seventh through games of Feb. 19 with 6.5 rpg.

Gardner is ranked among the league leaders in five different categories (PPG, RPG, FT Pct., FG Pct. & DRPG). The Suffolk, Va., was a preseason first team all-league honoree and is also in contention for the sixth man award (along with Mayo), which he claimed in 2012-13. Gardner has made seven starting assignments (all in BIG EAST play) and contributes 12.8 points per outing when not on court for the opening tip.

Mayo is also one of the league’s top bench performers and second only to Gardner in reserve scoring among BIG EAST competitors. The Huntington, W.Va., native is chipping in 9.9 points per game in 24 appearances as a substitution and is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 78.7 from the free throw line for the year.